When the Co Tu people 'magically' turn wild plants into specialties

Co Tu people harvest A Rieu chili. Photo: T.Thanh.

We returned to Ma Cooih commune, Dong Giang district in the last days of the month, the sun was blazing hot on the chili fields. This was also the time when the Co Tu households began harvesting A Rieu chili. Under the sparse acacia forests, the chili hills appeared lush green, interspersed with the red of ripe chili.

The Co Tu people call this small-fruited chili plant A Rieu, which means bulbul. According to the locals, this type of chili used to grow mainly in the forest. People picked it to eat, it has a spicy, aromatic taste, very unique, so they planted the seeds to try. After that, many people planted it together, each family had a little, mainly to use as a spice or to eat with family meals. Later, people started selling it to neighbors or people from the lowlands who had used and liked this type of chili.

Mr. Ating Ben (44 years old, Cutchorun village) said: “My family has planted more than 300 A Rieu chili plants, which are now yielding good harvests. Every March, my family clears the land to sow seeds, and takes about 3-4 months to take care of them before starting to harvest. Every 15 days, we harvest a batch, and then replant new plants for about 6 months. I didn’t expect that sticking to it would change my life.”

In 2016, Ma Cooih Agricultural and Forestry Cooperative was established, purchasing chili for people. Thanks to stable output, many households have improved their economy from A Rieu chili. After harvest, people will sell chili to the cooperative, about 200,000 - 250,000 VND/kg, depending on the time. In the off-season, the price sometimes goes up to 400,000/kg. Each time, the family earns about 13 - 15 million VND.

Not only in Ma Cooih, A Rieu chili has been propagated and grown en masse in some communes in the mountainous districts of Quang Nam such as Dong Giang, Tay Giang, Nam Tra My. However, according to Mr. A Lang Dien - Director of Ma Cooih Agriculture and Forestry Cooperative, A Rieu chili grown in the commune is still more flavorful, more fragrant, different from other places. In recent times, this specialty plant has helped many households improve their livelihoods and escape poverty.

Since the beginning of the year, the Cooperative has supported 10 households with about 10,000 seedlings, and guided them to plant them most effectively. People are supported with seedlings, after harvesting they can sell them back to the Cooperative, or elsewhere if the price is high. Depending on the time, the Cooperative buys from people, the price fluctuates, currently from 180,000 - 200,000 VND/kg.

After purchasing, the members of the Cooperative will process A Rieu chili into products, then sell them on the market at a price of 200,000-300,000 VND/kg, depending on the product. For fresh chili, the Cooperative sells for about 250,000 VND/kg. "In the coming time, we will continue to support seedlings for households that register to grow them, and at the same time, we will seek output from larger enterprises, thereby helping people feel secure in growing chili to develop the economy," said Mr. Dien.

Mr. Arat Boi - Chairman of the People's Committee of Ma Cooih commune, said: From a wild plant growing in the forest, A Rieu chili has now become a 3-star OCOP product of the province, contributing greatly to promoting local economic development. With A Rieu chili planted interspersed under acacia forests or hilly land, each household can earn from 20 to 50 million VND per year depending on the planting area and the yield achieved.

Mr. Do Huu Tung - Vice Chairman of Dong Giang District People's Committee, said: Recently, the District People's Committee organized the first A Rieu Chili Festival at Dong Giang Heaven Gate Eco- tourism Area. "The festival aims to introduce and promote tourism and A Rieu chili products associated with the development of medicinal plants and eco-tourism to tourists inside and outside the province. Stimulating the Heaven Gate eco-tourism destination associated with the development of A Rieu chili products, creating conditions for connecting tourist tours in the coming time. This is also an opportunity to mobilize cooperatives, cooperative groups and households to participate in connecting and introducing local agricultural products, especially A Rieu chili" - Mr. Tung added.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/khi-nguoi-co-tu-ho-bien-cay-dai-thanh-dac-san-10290079.html